TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida A&M University (FAMU) President James H. Ammons has appointed Thomas J. Haynes as the new vice president for University Relations.

“I am confident that Thomas Haynes will demonstrate strong leadership and fundraising skills for University Relations,” said Ammons. “He has experience with capital campaigns and a thorough knowledge of marketing and grant solicitation. We look forward to working with him as we take FAMU to the next level in higher education.”

Haynes, who officially begins at the end of the October, has worked at the university in various roles from 1977-2003.

“I’m excited about returning to FAMU,” Haynes said. “It’s a place I know and am passionate about. I am committed to its mission and looking forward to working with the president, board of trustees, faculty, staff, students and alumni as we position the university to continue to achieving its mission.”

Haynes is an experienced senior fundraiser with a strong strategic and entrepreneurial vision and passion for organizational success. He has been recognized in the industry as one with a proven record of success and a high standard of professional integrity and ethics. His expertise includes strategic planning and marketing for external support; grant solicitation and acquisition (public and private sources); capital campaign development and execution; development of collaborative corporate and community partnerships; innovations in curriculum development; international experience in developing education/business partnerships.

Haynes said one of his first goals is to begin to develop a fundraising infrastructure that will not only meet the Capital Campaign goal, but also position the university in terms of resource development.

“I bring a strong fundraising background to this position,” Haynes said. “I understand the value of creating partnerships for higher education. I bring a special set of skills—especially around resource development.”

Haynes earned his bachelor’s degree in 1976 from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.; his master’s degree from FAMU in 1977; and his doctorate in education leadership with specialization in educational policy, planning and analysis in 1991 from Florida State University.

While an employee at FAMU, he served as a career development specialist, student affairs coordinator, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, assistant professor / executive director of the Career and Cooperative Education Center, associate vice president for University Relations, and the executive director of the Business Industry Cluster.

While working with University Relations, he and his team were responsible for developing the strategic plan to raise $50 million in a capital campaign (results exceeded $75 million in assets). He also managed development of foundation proposals (public and private) and stewardship activities. With the Industry Cluster, he provided leadership that resulted in one of the most benchmarked Industry Cluster programs (business/education partnership) in the country.

From 2003-2008, he served as the Montclair State University vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Montclair, N.J. There he provided vision, leadership and management for the following functional areas: communications and marketing, alumni relations, public and media relations, community relations, career services, development and advancement services, foundation services, web services and publications. He developed infrastructure and internal and external relationships required to achieve the strategic goal of transitioning from a Master’s Comprehensive University to a Doctoral Research Intensive University.

From 2008-2010, he served as Coppin State University vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director of the University Foundation in Baltimore, Md.

Prior to returning FAMU, he has been working as a fundraising consultant where he provides consulting services to small to mid-sized non-profit organizations in the areas of: strategic planning, capital campaign planning, implementation and, feasibility studies, major gift and fundraising counsel, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, design, implementation and management of planned giving programs, fundraising assessment and audits, executive coaching, grant writing, research and administration, interim staffing solutions, donor data base analysis and prospect development, corporate and foundation relations, annual fund management, and foundation operations and management.

Haynes says he is looking forward to meeting the staff and getting reacquainted with the university again.

“The most important thing to me is getting back to campus and raising the resources needed to keep FAMU a premier institution in this country.”